Hose connection assembly

ABSTRACT

A hose fitting for connecting a hydraulic hose to a hydraulic system including an axially inner reduced diameter bore portion and an axially outer enlarged diameter bore portion formed with an inner circumferential groove, comprising: a cylindrical member axially slidable within the enlarged diameter bore portion and having a radial flange portion and an axial tubular portion extending axially outwardly from the radial flange portion; a sleeve mounted on the enlarged diameter bore portion and having an inner inclined surface; a collect arranged between the cylindrical member and the sleeve and having an outer surface engageable with the inner inclined surface of the sleeve and radially inwardly constrictible when moving axially outwardly within the sleeve, the hydraulic hose being crimped by axial outward movement of the collet; and a stop member received in the circumferential groove and adapted to limit axial outward movement of the sleeve and collet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to hose connection assemblies,and in particular to such assemblies which are employed to connecthydraulic hoses to hydraulic systems such as hydraulic pumps, hydraulicvalves and the like.

The invention especially relates to an improved hose connection assemblywhich connects hydraulic hoses to hydraulic systems without screwconnection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A conventional hose connection assembly for hydraulic systems is shownin FIGS. 7 and 8 for instance. In the hose connection assembly 1 asshown in FIG. 7, a hydraulic system 2 such as a hydraulic pump useshigh-pressure fluid having a normal fluid pressure of more than 30kg/cm² and has a fluid passageway 2a' through which fluid under pressurepasses. In the connection of a hydraulic hose 3 to the hydraulic system2, the hydraulic hose 3 is connected to a hose fitting 7 and thenconnected to a connection portion 2b formed in a wall 2a of thehydraulic system 2. The hydraulic hose 3 comprises, as shown in FIG. 8,plural layers formed by an inner tube 4, an intermediate reinforcinglayer 5 and an outer cover 6. There are two kinds of hose fittings usedin the connection of such a hydraulic hose thereto; one is a crimpingtype as shown in FIG. 8 and another is a noncrimping type. The hosefitting 7 of the crimping type comprises a core member 8 having a pipetaper thread 7a for connecting the core member 8 to the hydraulic system2, and a cylindrical crimping member 9 retained on the core member 8.The hydraulic hose 3 is inserted on the axial tubular portion 8a of thecore member 8, and the cylindrical member 9 is crimped by suitablecrimping machines. The pipe taper thread 7a of the tube fitting 7 isthen covered with a sealing member and threaded into the female threadformed in the connection portion 2b of the hydraulic system 2. A hosefitting 11 as shown in FIG. 9 uses a pipe parallel thread 11a with anO-ring 12 mounted thereon instead of the aforesaid pipe taper thread 7a,and connects the hydraulic hose 3 to the hydraulic system 2. Thus, inthe connection of a hydraulic hose to a hydraulic system, the hydraulichose is normally connected to the hydraulic system through screwconnection, i.e., by the use of male and female threads.

However, the screw connection has presented drawbacks that threadingtools are required in the case of a hose fitting having no threadthereon and that time and effort is required in threading the malethread of the hose fitting into the female thread of the hydraulicsystem. For this reason, it has been eagerly demanded to make itpossible to connect a hydraulic hose to a hydraulic system without screwconnection. Furthermore, in the case that one end of an adapter is firstthreaded into the female thread formed in the wall 2a of the hydraulicsystem 2 and then the hose fitting 7 is connected to the other end ofthe adapter, the screw connection is difficult in a narrow place as theadapter and hose fitting 7 protrude largely from the wall 2a of thehydraulic system 2 as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, the hose end cannotbe bent in the vicinity of the hydraulic system wall 2a.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide animproved hose connection assembly which can eliminate the drawbacksmentioned above and wherein a hydraulic hose is very easily connected toa hydraulic system without screw connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a hose fitting for connecting a hydraulic hose to ahydraulic system including a wall member which has an axially innerreduced diameter bore portion formed with a reduced diameter bore and anaxially outer enlarged diameter bore portion formed with an innercircumferential groove and an enlarged diameter bore connected to thereduced diameter bore, comprising: a cylindrical member axially slidablewithin the enlarged diameter bore portion of the hydraulic system andhaving a radial flange portion and an axial tubular portion extendingaxially outwardly from the radial flange portion, the axial tubularportion being formed with a through bore communicating with the axialreduced bore of the reduced diameter bore portion of the hydraulicsystem; a sleeve mounted on the enlarged diameter bore portion of thehydraulic system and having an inner inclined surface; a collet arrangedbetween the cylindrical member and the sleeve and axially movable withinthe enlarged diameter bore portion of the hydraulic system, the collethaving an outer surface engageable with the inner inclined surface ofthe sleeve and radially inwardly constrictible when moving axiallyoutwardly within the sleeve, the hydraulic hose being crimped betweenthe collet and the axial tubular portion of the cylindrical member byaxial outward movement of the collet; and a stop member received in thecircumferential groove of the enlarged diameter bore portion and adaptedto limit axial outward movement of the sleeve and collet.

The radial flange portion and axial tubular portion of the cylindricalmember may be provided with sealing members, respectively.

The inner inclined surface of the sleeve may narrow axially outwardlyand the outer surface of the collet narrows axially outwardly. The outersurface of the collet may narrow at an angle corresponding to the angleof the inner inclined surface of the sleeve.

The collet may be formed at its inner surface with a plurality ofcircumferential groove and land portions and at its outer surface with aplurality of axial slits.

The sleeve may have a maximum diameter portion whose diameter isslightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flange portion of thecylindrical member, the collet being retained at the maximum diameterportion at a predetermined internal pressure not so as to excessivelycrimp the hydraulic hose.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention,there is provided a hose fitting for connecting a hydraulic hose to ahydraulic system including a wall member which has an axially innerreduced diameter bore portion formed with a reduced diameter bore and anaxially outer enlarged diameter bore portion formed with an innercircumferential groove and an enlarged diameter bore connected to thereduced diameter bore, comprising: a cylindrical member axially slidablewithin the enlarged diameter bore portion of the hydraulic system andhaving a radial flange portion and an axial tubular portion extendingaxially outwardly from the radial flange portion, the axial tubularportion being formed with a through bore communicating with the axialreduced bore of the reduced diameter bore portion of the hydraulicsystem; a collet having an outer inclined surface, and a radial flangeportion radially outwardly extending from the outer surface and receivedin the inner circumferential groove of the hydraulic system; a sleevearranged between the cylindrical member and the collet and axiallymovable within the enlarged diameter bore portion of the hydraulicsystem, the sleeve having an inner inclined surface engageable with theouter surface of the collet, the collet being radially inwardlyconstrictible when the sleeve is moving axially outwardly, the hydraulichose being crimped between the collet and the axial tubular portion ofthe cylindrical member by axial outward movement of the sleeve; and astop member received in the circumferential groove of the enlargeddiameter bore portion and adapted to limit axial outward movement of thesleeve and collet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a hose connectionassembly constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FiG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the hose connection assemblywherein the hose is crimped and connected to the hydraulic system byaxial outward movement of the core member from the position of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view showing the collet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation,showing the collet shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a hose connectionassembly constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, partly broken away,showing the hose connection assembly wherein the hose is crimped andconnected to the hydraulic system by axial outward movement of the coremember from the position of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view, partly broken away, showing a conventionalhose connection assembly;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the hosefitting of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view, partly broken away, showing anotherconventional hose connection assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring more particularly to the drawings where the showings are forthe purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the presentinvention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIG. 1 showsthe present invention incorporated in a hose connection assembly 21. Thehose connection assembly 21 comprises a core member 24 that is connectedto a hydraulic system 23 such as hydraulic pumps, hydraulic valves andthe like. The hydraulic system 23 includes a wall member 22 which has anaxially inner reduced diameter bore portion 22a formed with a reduceddiameter bore 22a' and which further has an axially outer enlargeddiameter bore portion 22b formed with an enlarged diameter bore 22dconnected to the reduced diameter bore 22a'. The core member 24 of thehose connection assembly 21 has a radial flange portion 24a axiallyslidable within the bore 22d of the enlarged diameter bore portion 22b,and an axial tubular portion 24c extending axially outwardly from theradial flange portion 24a and formed with an axial through bore 24bcommunicating with the bore 22a' of the reduced diameter bore portion22a. It is preferred that the axial tubular portion 24c of the coremember 24 be covered with a sealing member in order to provide betterengagement of the tubular portion with a hydraulic hose to be describedhereinafter. The enlarged diameter bore portion 22b of the hydraulicsystem 23 is provided at its axially outer end portion 22c with acylindrical retaining sleeve 26. The cylindrical sleeve 26 has its outersurface 26a received in a recess 22e in the enlarged diameter boreportion 22b, and the axial movement of the cylindrical sleeve 26 islimited by an annular stop ring 27 received in a circumferential groove22f in the enlarged diameter bore portion 22b. The cylindrical sleeve 26has a radially inner frustoconical surface 26c narrowing toward theaxially outer end portion 22c of the enlarged diameter bore portion 22b.A cylindrical collet 28 made of steel is provided within the enlargeddiameter bore portion 22b of the hydraulic system 23, and has a radiallyouter frustoconical surface 28a narrowing toward the axially outer endportion 22c of the enlarged diameter bore portion 22b at an anglecorresponding to the angle of the inner frustoconical surface 26c of thesleeve 26. It is noted that the collet 28 also may be made of polyacetaland synthetic resin such nylon and the like. The collet 28 is formed atits inner surface with a plurality of circumferential groove and landportions 28b, so that it can effectively constrict radially inwardlywhen axially outwardly moving within the sleeve 26. As shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the collet 28 is further formed with a plurality of axial slits28c so that the collet 28 can maintain its form and surely constrictradially inwardly even under constricting and crimping load. A firstO-ring 29 is received in a circumferential groove formed in the radialflange portion 24a of the core member 24 to form a seal between theenlarged diameter bore portion 22b of the hydraulic system 23 and theflange portion 24a of the core member 24. A second O-ring 30 is receivedin a circumferential groove formed in the axial tubular portion 24c ofthe core member 24 in opposing relationship to the circumferentialgroove and land portions 28b of the collet 28, and is adapted to form aseal between the axial tubular portion 24c and a hydraulic hose 31inserted on the axial tubular portion 24c.

The hydraulic hose 31 is a high-pressure hose of a compositeconstruction having an inner diameter D₃₁ of 9.5 mm, and comprises aninner tube 32 made of nylon resin, an intermediate reinforcing braidedlayer 33 made of polyester fiber, and an outer cover 34 made ofpolyurethan. The distal end 31a of the hydraulic hose 31 passes axiallyinwardly and is inserted to the fully inserted position of FIG. 1wherein the end 31a abuts the flange portion 24a of the core member 24.If an internal pressure is applied through the bore 22a' to the axiallyinner end surface of the core member 24, the core member 24 is caused tomove axially outwardly toward the sleeve 26. As shown in FIG. 2, theaxial outward movement of the core member 24 from the fully insertedposition of FIG. 1 now causes the collet 28 to be moved axiallyoutwardly so as to bring the outer frustoconical surface 28a of thecollet 28 into engagement with the inner frustoconical surface 26c ofthe sleeve 26. As a result of the movement of the collet 28, the collet28 is constricted radially inwardly so that the hydraulic hose 31 iscrimped between the collet 28 and the axial tubular portion 24c of thecore member 24.

The operation of the hose connection assembly 21 constructed asdescribed above will hereinafter be described in detail.

The hydraulic hose 31 is first inserted to the fully inserted positionof FIG. 1 wherein the distal end 31a abuts the flange portion 24a of thecore member 24. The inner tube 32 of the hydraulic hose 31 engages theO-ring 30 in the axial tubular portion 24b of the core member 24 andthereby forms a seal between the inner tube 32 of the hydraulic hose 31and the tubular portion 24b, and even in the case of zero pressure orsubstantially zero pressure within the hose connection assembly 21,there is no leak of fluid. As the hose connection assembly 21 of thepresent invention has within the enlarged diameter bore portion 22b ofthe hydraulic system 23 the sleeve 26 and the collet 28, when internalpressure is applied to the hose connection assembly 21, the flangeportion 24a of the core member 24 is caused to move axially outwardlytoward the sleeve 26 due to the internal pressure within the reduceddiameter bore portion 22a, and at the same time the collet 28 is engagedby the core member 24 and moves axially outwardly with the core member24. As a result of the movement of the collet 28 from the position ofFIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2, the outer frustoconical surface 28a ofthe collet 28 is brought into engagement with the inner frustoconicalsurface 26c of the sleeve 26 and axially slides within the sleeve 26.When this occurring, the axial slits 28c of the collet 28 are caused tobe narrowed and the collet 28 is caused to be constricted radiallyinwardly, while at the same time the outer cover 34 of the hydraulichose 31 is crimped by the circumferential groove and land portions 28bof the collet 28. In this way, the hydraulic hose 31 is firmly crimpedby the hose connection assembly 21, and therefore there is no leak ofthe fluid within the hose connection assembly 21. In addition, as thediameter of the maximum 32 of hydraulic hose 31 engages the O-ring 30 inthe axial tubular portion 24b of the core member 24 and thereby forms aseal between the inner tube 32 of the hydraulic hose 31 and the tubularportion 24b, and even in the case of zero pressure or substantially zeropressure within the hose connection assembly 21, there is no leak offluid. As the hose connection assembly 21 of the present invention haswithin the enlarged diameter bore portion 22b of the hydraulic system 23the sleeve 26 and the collet 28, when internal pressure is applied tothe hose connection assembly 21, the flange portion 24a of the coremember 24 is caused to move axially outwardly toward the sleeve 26 dueto the internal pressure within the reduced diameter bore portion 22a,and at the same time the collet 28 is engaged by the core member 24 andmoves axially outwardly with the core member 24. As a result of themovement of the collet 28 from the position of FIG. 1 to the position ofFIG. 2, the outer frustoconical surface 28a of the collet 28 is broughtinto engagement with the inner frustoconical surface 26c of the sleeve26 and axially slides within the sleeve 26. When this occurring, theaxial slits 28c of the collet 28 are caused to be narrowed and thecollet 28 is caused to be constricted radially inwardly, while at thesame time the outer cover 34 of the hydraulic hose 31 is crimped by thecircumferential groove and land portions 28b of the collet 28. In thisway, the hydraulic hose 31 is firmly crimped by the hose connectionassembly 21, and therefore there is no leak of the fluid within the hoseconnection assembly 21. In addition, as the diameter of the maximumdiameter portion 26d of the sleeve 26 is slightly smaller than the outerdiameter of the flange portion 24a of the core member 24, the collet 28is retained at the maximum diameter portion 26d at a predeterminedinternal pressure. For this reason, the hydraulic hose 31 is notexcessively crimped by the collet 28 and the core member 24, andtherefore the outer cover 34 and the intermediate reinforcing layer 33are effectively prevented from being cut. The hydraulic hose 31 issimply inserted between the collet 28 and the core member 24 as arrangedin FIG. 1 and is connected to the wall member 22 of the hydraulic system23 with the axial outward movement of the hydraulic hose 31 from theposition of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2 as described above. Thus,the hose connection assembly 21 according to the present inventionrequires no crimping tools in the connection of the hydraulic hose 31 tothe hydraulic system 23, and therefore the hose end can be very easilyconnected to the hydraulic system 23 without the use of screws.

In addition, since the distal end 31a of the hydraulic hose 31 isinserted into the wall member 22 of the hydraulic system 23 andconnected to the hydraulic system 23 with the axial outward movement ofthe hydraulic hose 31 from the position of FIG. 1 to the position ofFIG. 2, there is no fittings protruding axially outwardly from the outerwall surface of the wall member 22. Thus, the hydraulic hose 31 iscapable of being bent at the outer wall surface of the wall member 22 asindicated by broken lines in FIG. 2, and therefore the hydraulic hose 31can be connected to the hydraulic system 23 even in narrow workingspace.

FIG. 5 illustrates a hose connection assembly 41 constructed inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The partsand members substantially identical to those of the first embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by like reference numerals foravoiding the detailed description. The second embodiment shown in FIG. 5is characterized in that a collet 28' is mounted in the enlargeddiameter bore portion 22b of a hydraulic system 23 and that a sleeve 26'is arranged between a core member 24 and the collet 28' and axiallymovable. The collet 28' has a radially outer frustoconical surface 28a'widening axially outwardly, and a radial flange portion 28d which issnugly received in a circumferential groove 22f' in the enlarge diameterbore portion 22b. The axial outward movement of the collet 28' islimited by an annular stop ring 27 also snugly received in thecircumferential groove 22f'. The sleeve 26' has a radially innerfrustoconical surface 26c' widening axially outwardly at an anglecorresponding to the angle of the frustoconical surface 28a' of thecollet 28'. As shown in FIG. 6, the internal pressure within an axiallyinner reduced diameter bore portion 22a causes the flange portion 24a ofthe core member 24 to move axially outwardly toward the sleeve 26. Thesleeve 26' engaged by the flange portion 24a is then moved axiallyoutwardly so as to bring the inner frustoconical surface 26c' of thesleeve 26' into engagement with the frustoconical surface 28a' of thecollet 28'. As a result, the collet 28' is constricted radiallyinwardly, and thus the distal end 31a of the hydraulic hose 31 is firmlycrimped between the collet 28' and the axial tubular portion 24c of thecore member 24, thereby completing the connection of the hydraulic hose31 to the hydraulic system 23.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that in accordance withthe present invention, there is provided an improved hose connectionassembly which can eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above and wherein ahydraulic hose is very easily connected to a hydraulic system withoutscrew connection. While certain representative embodiments and detailshave been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

What we claim is:
 1. A hose fitting for connecting a hydraulic hose to ahydraulic system including a wall member which has an axially innerreduced diameter bore portion formed with a reduced diameter bore and anaxially outer enlarged diameter bore portion formed with an innercircumferential groove and an enlarged diameter bore connected to thereduced diameter bore, comprising:a cylindrical member axially slidablewithin said enlarged diameter bore portion of said hydraulic system andhaving a radial flange portion and an axial tubular portion extendingaxially outwardly from said radial flange portion, the axial tubularportion being formed with a through bore communicating with said axialreduced bore of said reduced diameter bore portion of said hydraulicsystem, the cylindrical member being moved axially outwardly by aninternal pressure of said hydraulic system; a sleeve axially fixedlymounted on said enlarged diameter bore portion of said hydraulic systemand having an inner inclined surface; a collet arranged between saidcylindrical member and said sleeve and axially movable within saidenlarged diameter bore portion of said hydraulic system, the collethaving an outer surface engageable with said inner inclined surface ofsaid sleeve and being radially inwardly constrictible when movingaxially outwardly within said sleeve, the hydraulic hose being merelyinserted and crimped between said collet and said axial tubular portionof said cylindrical member by axial outward movement of said colletcaused by axial outward movement of said cylindrical member; said sleevehaving a maximum inner diameter portion whose diameter is slightlysmaller than the outer diameter of said flange portion of saidcylindrical member, and the collet being retained at said maximum innerdiameter portion at a predetermined internal pressure not so as toexcessively crimp said hydraulic hose; and a stop member received insaid circumferential groove of said enlarged diameter bore portion andadapted to limit axial outward movement of said sleeve and collet.
 2. Ahose fitting as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radial flange portionand axial tubular portion of said cylindrical member are provided withsealing members, respectively.
 3. A hose fitting as set forth in claim1, wherein said inner inclined surface of said sleeve narrows axiallyoutwardly and said outer surface of said collet narrows axiallyoutwardly.
 4. A hose fitting as set forth in claim 3, wherein said outersurface of said collet narrows at an angle corresponding to the angle ofsaid inner inclined surface of the sleeve.
 5. A hose fitting as setforth in claim 1, wherein said collet is formed at its inner surfacewith a plurality of circumferential groove and land portions and at itsouter surface with a plurality of axial slits.